The opening minutes of TV BiH’s prime time newscast were given to the US and British bombers’ new attack on Iraq. TV BiH’s leading report presented Saddam Hussein’s reaction to the latest bombardment (he called upon his people and soldiers to endure in these difficult times), followed by a report from Washington, highlighting average American citizens’ skepticism over the possible positive outcome of the action. Americans, though, expressed their support of the action. Followed the British Premier Blair and Kofi Annan’s sound bites, both of the two being supportive of the action in their respective ways. The US Ambassador to BiH, Richard Kauzlarich, informed the BH Presidency member Izetbegovic on the reasons for the latest US attack on Iraq. Izetbegovic, however, stressed that the US should make a clear distinction between Iraqi people and the Iraqi regime. TV BiH closed its tonight’s story on the bombardment of Iraq with a report presenting which countries opposed the action. Anti-US protests in Kairo, New York and Palestine were also mentioned.
5:00
Izetbegovic’s office released a reaction to recent Croatian President Tudjman’s speech regarding the Agreement on Special Relations and Martin Brod. Izetbegovic stressed that the Agreement “is not a confederation agreement”. Izetbegovic warned that unless Granic’s promises concerning the withdrawal of Croatian army from Martin Brod are soon realised, the issue would be passed to the Security Council for consideration. He labelled the Croatian threat to SFOR units in Martin Brod as “completely out of place”, and concluded by emphasising that Tudjman’s accusations at the expense of The Hague, Serbs and Muslims were “unacceptable”.
1:30
The BH Parliamentary HofR adopted the Federation President’s report on the activities regarding the Brcko arbitration. TV BiH’s reporter from the HofR session said that the “controversial politician, MP Mirsad Ajanovic… gave the tone to the session. At the beginning (of the session)… he attacked Bicakcic… and made some brutal condemnations… he called the HofR a ‘fascist’ House”. Ajanovic subsequently left the session. The HoR, however, agreed that the Federal authorities should draw up a programme for Brcko prior to the arbitration. As for the issue of the constituency of peoples in BH, the HofR asked that the entity constitutions be brought in line with the state constitution.
2:30
According to TV BiH’s correspondent from Kosovo, the situation in the troubled province is “still tense” and “very dramatic”. The report focused on the continuing fighting in the area of Pec.
1:00
An agreement on urgent improvement of the electric energy system in BH was signed today with the Fund for Overseas Cooperation from Japan. Pursuant to the agreement, 34 million US dollars will be invested in the BH electric energy system.
0:45
BH economic experts compiled a strategy for (future) economic relations between BH and the European Union. The strategy, which will be submitted to the CoM, underlined the problems regarding the differences in two entities’ fiscal systems, and a non-unified customs system.
0:30
Tuzla-Podrinje Canton government held a session today, discussing the situation in Brcko. The TPK government presented a report on its investments in the town, aimed at the reanimation of economy, which, again, should speed up the process of return.
0:50
Political parties’ activities were today limited to their reactions to the Madrid Conference. SDA labelled the Madrid Declaration as “not perfect… but good and suitable”, while the Centre Coalition expressed their satisfaction over the widening of the HR’s mandate.